SUMMARY:
Tonsil stones are not only discomforting, but they can lead to worse health issues and bad breath.

Posted: November 7, 2012

If you are experiencing pain at the back of your throat that doesn’t seem to fade away, it’s possible that you may have tonsil stones. However, there are several similarities between tonsil stones and strep throat that need to be differentiated. Tonsilloliths, or tonsil stones are particles of food mixed with phlegm that get stuck in the crevices of your tonsils. The tricky part is that they may both appear white and cause bad breath, but tonsil stones can easily be cured with several at-home remedies and all-natural mouth rinses that will ensure you won’t get the pesky stones again.

The best way to make sure that you don’t get tonsil stones is to maintain good oral health. Using an alcohol-free mouthwash, an all-natural toothpaste and floss everyday will keep your mouth clean and free of tonsil stones. Tongue scrapers are also great tools for a healthy mouth because bacteria builds up at the back of the throat that can be hard to get with just a toothbrush.

Tonsil stones get stuck in the back of your throat and form a sticky substance from dead cells and calcium. These can cause pain, but they also cause stinky breath. Because there is bacterial growth at the back of your throat, you end up with breath that could clear a room. Also, if you don’t cure tonsil stones, it may lead to tonsillitis, an illness whose symptoms include swollen tonsils, sore throat, reddish tonsils, a fever and inflammation. Here are a few ways to help get rid of tonsil stones:

Gargle
There are several things that you can gargle that will help you get rid of tonsil stones from home. A warm salt water solution is one of the most popular and soothing remedies for tonsil stones. Gargling this warm mixture twice a day will help reduce symptoms and might stop them from coming back. Also, creating a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water or hydrogen peroxide and water to gargle with will help get rid of tonsil stones. Both of these mixtures loosen up the stones to help with easy removal.

One of the newest popular solutions for cleaning the mouth is extra virgin coconut oil. This natural remedy helps tone down the inflammation of the tonsils, and gargling can be repeated three to five times a day for best results.

Healthy food intake
If you commonly eat unhealthy foods, it is possible that this could be cause for tonsil stones and bad breath. When you intake fruits and vegetables, the nutrients help prevent bacterial build up in the mouth. Similarly, a diet filled with probiotics may help extensively because the good bacteria helps eliminate the bad bacteria that causes tonsil stones and bad breath. Good sources of probiotics include sauerkraut, tempeh and pickles. Limiting dairy products in your diet will help, because they are one of the main food causes of tonsil stones. Dairy products encourage mucus and calcium buildup. Adding tea into your everyday diet will help relieve the pain of tonsil stones.

Natural at-home remedies can do wonders to conquer tonsil stones if they are still minor, but to get to the source of these pesky stones, you may need something with more power. To eliminate tonsil stones and ensure they don’t come back to haunt you, at home kits will be the best solution. This small investment will help you make sure that you never have to worry about tonsil stones and the stinky breath that comes along with them.